Building unit and method



Sept. 20, 1927. TROZZOV 3, 3

BUILDING UNIT AND METHOD Filed July 14. 1926 W991. 1

. 1,643 103 Sept. 20, 1927. R TROZZO BUILDING UNIT AND METHOD Filed July14, 1926 4 Sheets-heet 4 1 \I I I a I l f ,7 5 "0 5/ r I l l I F 1] L atJ Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

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RAFAEL Tnozzo, 'onBe Nos mans, ARGENTI A,

BITIIQDINGUNIT AND METHOD.

Application filed July 14,

This invention relates to a novel an proved unit of material forbuilding purposes and has for its object'to provide a simple andcheapbuilding unit of light Weight and capable of being readily placedpositionlwhich besides these advantageshas also that of considerablestrength, being particularly adapted for use in substitution thematerials of similar description used here l0 tofore, such asbricks,reinforced concrete blocks or slabs and the like. p i

The invention also has for its object to provide certain improvements insaid building unit or means, designed to facilita'te'interconnection ofthe several units employed and give the necessary degree of rigidity tothe whole construct-ion. The invention further relates to an iniprovedmethod of buil diiig, of the kind wherein for the erection of walls,hollo'vv -double walled bodies or units of suitable material, eitherreinforced'or not, are, chiployed, and also has for its object toprovide a novel method for the speedy and economical construction ofbuildings Orton siderable strength and durability and which may becarried out even by rather unskilled operators. 1

It is also an object ofthis invention to provide means for the kind ofbuildings as. i above s'et forth which shall render the same of therequired degree of solidity and rigidity, without" the use of pillars,and also render the sanie perfectly tight.-

Other objects of the ihventi'on will appear in the course'of, thisspecification and will be particularly referred to in the finalclaimshereto annexed. v 7 V In order that the invention may be clearlyunderstood and readily carried into practice, I the same is represehtedby of example in the accompanying drawings; wherein Figurel is aviewfinfi efit perspective, partially se'cti'on al", of 'a buildihg'unit according to this invention; I

. Figure 2 is a vertical central section of two of suchi superp'osedbuilding hints or bodies. 1 a Figure 3 illustrates a v erticalseptien ofalternative 'fb'ifih (if construction of the building unit/ I, i'Figiire 4 shows front elevatieh' of a cor iierfpiec'e or unitgfadaptedfoif iise this hind cohstruc tioiill V Figure 5 sh plan new "efhe vlililll s 1926. sen-Lam. 122,476.

plan view of part of a building constructed in accordance wlth thlsinvention.

'lii'gure 7 is a part sectional front elevation,

showing the position ofthe lower course of building units.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of a type of unit adapted to be used iiiConstructing the foundations of ab uildin'g.

Figure 9 isa plan view of the saline.

,Fi gui 'e 10 illustrates in plan View the po sit-ion or. several ofsaid units, arranged to form the foundations of a building. I

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic illustration ofthe arrangeinent of threeparallel partitions for the construction of large walls or for providingan increased number of air chambers or passages. p

Figure 12 shows the upper part of 'a buildihg and the manner ofarranging the roof on the cross beanis, and I 7 Figure 13 is partialsection of said reef.

In all the said views, sirhil'ar characters of reference are usedtoindicate like of corresponding parts.

In the fonn'oi construction shown, the building unit is substantially ofrectangular shape; biit it will be evident'that within the scope of-theinvention any other suitable or convenient form ma be adopted inorder to 's'uitthe same to the several conditions of the building to beconstructed,

In the fornifshown, said unit consists of a metallic framing; formed ofrods, wires orthe'like, pa'rt'of' which are placed endwise' as indicatedby 1 and the remainder extending in a transverse direction assh'own by2;,

and every two successive transverse rods or wires cross, eachotherii'ear-the lower and upper surfaces, as indicated by 3. On the twolateral surfacesof the framing, the slabs or partitions 4 and 5are'oast'or moulded;

in arallel position andpf any desired {thickness-g said slabs'or'partitions, owing to the particular arrangementnf the frame; areprevented from approaching each othen as ny train eigferted the way ofcollapsing or joining of said slabs or partitions 4' and 5; wil1 hecounteracted and eaus'eid to take place iii-the direction of incline ofthe metalli'e framing iii-the part 3, which latter exerts a drawinstrain will thereby balance the aforesaid force's, owingto the sammetrie ineline' of thecrossed parts; of

rt 'e' above deser ibed nfetallie reinforcing stru'enire.

r At-the'iniddle part of each of said units iii and on the inner surfaceof the respective partitions are formed the flanges 6, serving tosupport the free, intermediate supporting blocks 7 (see Fig. 2) whichafter the units are assembled or superposed, prevent the .same fromdeviatingone with regard to the other, and serve at the same time as abinding and guiding piece, so as to render the partitions or wallsconstructed of said units, absolutely stable, solid and homogeneous.

In Figure 3, a modified "form of construction is shown, wherein thecrossed wires which form the 'f'aming in the upper and lower part of theunit, or in the ends of the same, are covered with a thin layer ofcement mortar, so as to form a partition 8, preferably of concave shapeon its outer surface, so as to. allow of applying of the necessaryamount of mortar in order to obtain the binding between every twoadjacent or superposed units.

In accordance with this invention, a building unit is obtained which inuse does not sacrifice the advantages of those of known construction,heretofore employed. but which owinp to its reduced weight. permits (itbeing: constructed of much larger dimensions and which on account oi.the facility with which it may be placed in position, will cheapen by aconsiderable percentage the cost of labor, and in COHSOQHQDCQ, that ofthe entire building.

\Vhen it is desired to give to the wall a. monolithic appearance, theedges oi the partitions l and may be slightly bevelled on the outerside, so that cement mortar or the like may be applied thereto in orderto obtain a perfectly smooth and continuous sin" face.

A lso. if desired. the partitions *land :i of each of the units may bemade of different materials, so as to adapt the same to the severalrequiremei'its oi the rooms which they are to confine, or to other usesmade thereof. r

In accordance with this invention, in order to form the corners andcrossing; angles between two or more of the walls, the units shown inFigures 4; and are used; these consist of a square centre or core partit. provided with two, three or four flanges 12.. formed with a centralrecess 13, adapted to receive ribs or flanges formed on the units orparts of which the walls are being constructed. The units shown inFigures 4- and 5 are. of reinforced concrete and their dimensionsaresuch as to eorrespondvdth the units used in the remainder of thebuilding, which, as above explained. are of a type ineluding a doublepartition of any suitable material. Said corner units or pieces arepreferably provided at their centre part with upper and lower orifices14 which allow ot the insertion of a binding pin, so as to se cure theperfect vertical alinelnent of the parts and permit of applyinp thenecessary amount of mortar for obtaii'iine an etlicient binding of thesame. A building constructed in the manner above set forth, will beperfectly solid and as the corner parts above referred to may bepurchased in a ready made condition, it will be understood that theerection of the building in a true perpendicular and square condition,may be perforn'ied without diilicult'y.

In the form shown in Figure 6, units A provided with two flanges areshown, to be used for forming the outer corners oi a building; units Bprovided with three flanges will be used for joints between. two walls.and units C with four flanges for crossings between two walls.

When erecting the building, the flanges 12 oi said units are inserted:into the hollow space between the two partitions of each of the unitsfOlfHllllg the wall, said wall units, corner and intermediate supportingblocks being successively superposed and bound in position by means olia suitable n'iortar, or are left to support themselves by simplegravity.

In the form of construction shown, the units used ii OI the erection ofwalls are shown as consisting of: blocks or slabs of reinforcedconcrete, with the partitions arranged substantially parallel and spacedone From another. In the drawings thev are referred to by the letter l).Tn the hollow space. between said partitions and in the spacecorrespondingto every "following two partitions. small blocks 15 ofreinforced concrete are placed which substantially COIIGSDOHil to theflanges 12 of the corner pieces. By the superposition of said blocks 15in the entire extension of the walls of the building, a sort of verticalreinforcing column formed which assists to increase thc'solidity andstability of the same and at the same time tends to simplify theirconstruction.

For the erection of the building, foundations of any suitable or knownkind may be provided and along the line correspondiup to the hollowspace of the several corner pieces and of the blocks forming the base ofthe walls, metallic staples arearrang-ed to project, so that whenfilling the said base blocks with cement, they will be made to formmonolithic blocks with said foundation parts. i

If desired and in case the kind of ground operated on allows or requiresit to be done, special units may be used for laying the foundations,consisting of cross or T shaped parts, such as shown in Figures 8 9 and10. Said special parts or units may be constructed of reinforcedconcrete, substantially square in cross section, of dimensions to bedetermined in accordance with the weight they are tosupport,

Figure 10 clearly illustrates the arrangement of the several parts,which may also be seen in Figure 7 In accordance therewith, a centralpart or body 16 is formed, for the support of the partitions, andreinforcing flanges 17 are provided on the outside thereof,-in order toprovide for a largerisupport- .ing area. In each ofsaid parts 16, aseries of projecting metallicstaples or forks 18 is arranged, forinsertion into the hollow space of the units D and at the crossingplaces is provided a stud or rod 19, to be inserted in the central holeof the unitsA, B, C.

F rom the foregoing description and by referring to the drawings, themanner of erecting the building will be readily under struction.

ill

If deemed convenient and as shown-in Figure 11, walls of any desiredthickness may be constructed by arranging two or more partitions (three,in the figure represented), whereby also an increased number of airpassages or chambers is provided which may be used for placing conduitsfor electric leads, gas pipes, water mains and ventila-ts ing tubes,etc.

F or mounting the roof, a most simple method has been devised whichconsists in placing on top of the finished COIlStlUCtlOlI the iron Tbeams 20 (Figures 12 and 13), provided on their lower flanges with thestaples 21 or like means, rivetted thereto and which enter into thehollow space of the building units of the uppermost course with whichthey are rendered integral by filling up with mortar. The said beams areplaced apart at suitable intervals and upon the same are secured theroofing units D which are substantially similar to the units D used forthe walls. The roof units Dare supported by their lower edges on theflanges i of. the beams 20, with their upper "surfaces situated abovethe level of the neck part of said beams, the points being covered withsuitable. mortar. In. this way, roofs may be formed with projectingparts and any suitable incline may be given to them, as the conditionsmay require.

For the construction of such roofs, the units D may be shaped so thattheir lower surfaces will directly constitute the ceiling, while theirupper parts, made of an increased thickness, may be formed by or coveredwith a waterproof material, so as to exclude the passage of moisture.

It will be evident that modifications of construction and detail mightbe introduced without departing from the scope of the invention, asclearly determined and set forth in the claims hereto annexed.

I claim:

1. A building unit, consisting of spaced slabs of cementitious material,and a reenforcement there-for, said reenforcement including ,a pluralityof connecting elements between the slabs, crossing one another in thespace separating the slabs, each slab having a longitudinal flange alongits inner surface.

2. A building unit, consisting of spaced slabs of cementitious material,a reenforcement therefor, said reenforcement including a plurality ofconnecting elements extending from the edge of the one slab to theadjacent edge of the other slab and crossing one another in the spacebetween the slabs, each slab having'a longitudinal flange along itsinner surface, and layers of cementitious material between thelongitudinal edges of the slabs, the crossed connecting elements RAFAELTROZZO.

